An Eltingville home passed by hundreds of daily commuters on the corner of Katan and Richmond avenues is boarded up and surrounded by tall grass, prompting neighbors to worry about rodents and other problems that may arise from this untouched two-story site.

When the Advance visited last week, several unopened, rain-soaked envelopes were present on the steps in front of the entrance to the Eltingville home. They rest several feet below two sanitation citations from the Environmental Control Board that were issued on Aug. 16 and July 28.

Both violations state "dirty area" under general description. The details of the violation say that a "large accumulation of matted bottle(s), cigarette packs, cup(s), paper bag(s), piece(s) of paper, tissue(s), wrappers in the side yard at the above location (622 Katan Ave.) during the established routing hour of 8-8:59 a.m."

The property is littered with debris and most of the home's windows are covered by wood.

A longtime neighbor, Philip Tanella, said Bob and Lilly Parise owned the home on the corner of Katan for many years, but Parise passed away and his wife no longer resides at the residence.

The violations and city records indicate Marjorie Parise is responsible for the vacant home.

The Parise family could not be reached for comment.

Tanella, who called the Parises very good people and said everyone on the block enjoyed their company, explained that the house is, unfortunately, now known for its garbage and rodents.

He explained that some time ago, a water main broke inside the house and flooded the structure.

"You can't walk past there at night because the mosquitoes will eat you alive," he said, adding he believes the basement remains filled with standing water. The fellow Katan homeowner also noted other residents have phoned 311 with complaints about the house, but little has been done.

Another nearby resident who chose to remain anonymous wrote the Advance a letter and said the home needs to be investigated by the city Health Department.

"There definitely are rodents, mosquitoes galore because of the very high grass and overgrown shrubs, as well as squirrels and pigeons living in it. It has been vandalized more than I can count. Windows are broken and holes (are) in the roof," wrote the person who lives around the block from the house.

Tanella said homeless people were spotted living in the house. He fears that one of them may start a fire to keep warm and that it could result in the home burning down.

Regardless of the home at the corner, Tanella maintains Katan is still a fine place to live.

"We like it here. Most of us have been living here a long time," said Tanella, a resident on the street for at least 30 years.